Washing-machine



J. F. GUBBINS.

WASHING MACHINE. APPLICATION HLED AUG. 6. 1915 1,303,294, I PatentedMay13, 1919.

3 SHEETS-SHEET I.

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J. F. GUBBINS.

WASHING MACHINE.

APPLlC-ATION FILED AUG.6. 1915.

1,303,294. I Patented May13, 1919.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

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J. F. GUBBINS. WASHING MACHINE. APPLICATION FILED AUG-6. 1915.

1,303,294. Patented May 13, 1919 3 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

I JiZVefiZEr JOWYYFGa 661725 ED ATEs PATENT ,oFFIcE.

Jenn swarms, or CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

WASHING-MACHINE.

To all whom it may concern."

Be it known that 1, JOHN F. GUBBINS, a citizen of the United States,residing at Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois,haveinvented certain new and useful Improvements in ashing-Machines, ofwhich the following is a specification.

This invention relates to washing machines and in particular to theconstruction and mounting of that part of the machine which is adaptedto contain the clothes to be washed. My invention is particularly applicable to the cylinder type of washing machines, although manyfeatures of the invention maybe employed with equal advantage in otherforms of washing machines.

It has been the common practice prior to thistime to mount a rotatingcylinder in a tank adapted to contain washingfluid, and the cylindricalWalls of the cylinder have been perforated so that the washing fluid canpass freely to and from the clothes-containing cylinder during therotation thereof. In this way a constant circulation and agitation ofthe washing fluid is effected, together with a continuous agitation ofthe clothes therein. The cylindrical walls of the rotating cylinder havepreferably been formed of sheet metal which has been treated with aprotective coating adapted to prevent rusting and other deterioration.For instance, galvanized and plated sheet metal have been employed forthis purpose, and the perforations have been stamped through the metalafter the coating thereof, leaving'uncoated metal around the edges ofthe perforations which soils and otherwise damages the clothes in the.cylinder, particularly after the machine has been in use for aconsiderable period of time; Various means have hitherto been employedfor preventing these evil effects but none of them have been found to besuccessful. For instance, eyelets of brass or the like have beeninserted through the apertures and clamped in positiontherein, but ithas been impos sible to secure a tight fit of these eyelets and when themachine is in use there is a constant vibration or movement of theseeyelets in their seats, which'introduces a constant wear on the roughedges of the sheet metal around the apertures, thereby increasing theevil effects above referred to and contaminating the washingfluid withparticles of metal andother discoloring matter.

Specification of Letters Patent. Patented lylay 13, 1919. Applicationfiled August 6, 1915. Serial No. 43,986. h

An important object of the present invention is to overcome thedifiiculties above described by providing an improved construction forthe walls of the clothes-containing niember,whereby the walls will bestrengthened and the clothes therein will be protected at all times fromdiscoloration or other injury from the walls of the member. Anotherimportant feature of the invention is to provide improved means withinthe cylinder for effecting a continuous movement and agitation of theclothes therein. Still another feature of the invention relates to theprovision of an improved detachable cover for the rotating cylinder,together with means for locking the same in closed position. A furtherobject of the in vention is to provide an improved construction formounting the rotating clothes cylinder in the fiuidcontainingtank, sothat the cylinder may be readily withdrawn from the tank when desiredwithout the necessity of disassembling the bearings in which thecylinder rotatesl These and other objects of the invention will be morefully set forth in the following specification,taken in connection withthe accompanying drawings, in which one embodiment of the invention isillustrated.

In the drawings- Figure 1 shows a partial side elevation of a washingmachine embodying the features of my invention, certain parts beingbroken away to show the details in section;

Fig. 2 is an end view of a portion of the inner wall of thefluid-containing tank, showing the bracket or hearing member whichsupports one end of the rotating cylinder;

Fig. 3 is a view similar to Fig. 2, showing the bracket or bearingmember at the other end of thetank;

Fig. 4 is a perspective view of the driving shaft through which thecylinder is driven;

'Fig. 5 is a perspective view of a portion of the frame member securedto one end of the rotating cylinder, showing the part which coiiperateswith the driving shaft shown in Fig. 4;

Fig. 6 is a sectional view through the rotatable cylinder takentransversely of the axis thereof;

Figs. 7 and 8 are detail views showing one method of protecting theperforations in the cylinder wall which has been employed in the priorart;

with the lower semi cylindrical Y of, 1s the clothes-contammg Fig. 9shows a partial plan view of the rotatable cylinder, illustratingtheconstruction and mounting of the detachable cover;

the line 1010 of Fig. 9.

Referring to the drawings, my improved washing machine is shown ascomprising a fluid-containing tank having side and bottom walls 16formed of a single sheet of metal and end walls 17 and 18 securedthereto by any means suitable for that purpose.

This tank, may be supported; upon legs 19.

Mounted in the tank 15, concentrically portion therecylinder 20,

having the cylindrical wall 21 and the end walls 22 and 23, all of whichare formed of sheet metal which has been galvanized, plated or treatedwith other protective means. The end walls, are. secured to thecylindrical wall by any means suitable for that purpose and each endwall has secured thereto a bracket or frame member 25, -comprising acircular ring 25 and radially extending armsor spokes 25 The framemember 25 at the right end of the cylinder, as viewed= in Fig. 1, hasformed integrally therewith, at the junction of the arms 25", a stubshaft 26; which is journaled in the U- shaped bearingmember27secured tothe end 7, wall 18 of the-fluid-containing tank. This hearing membercomprises a flange 27 which is secured to. the end wall 18v and a rihtangularly disposed flange 2'? which receives and forms a bearing forthe-stub shaft .26. This bearing member is. given a U shapeto form, aslot 28, which. extends vertically upward and permits the withdrawal ofthe stub shaft 26 from its seat when desired, the ends of the flange2'7beingoutwardly flared to guidethe stub shaft in its. downward movement.At the. points 27the flange 27 is-providedwith outwardly inclinedsurfaces which are adaptedyto, coact with the centralportion oftheadjacent frame member 25- and thereby move the cylinder longitudinallyof its axis and toward the left, as viewed inFig. 1, at the instant thatthe stub shaft 26 passes into its seat in the bearing.

At the left-hand end of the cylinder, as viewed inFig. 1, the bearingmember 25 is providedatthe junction of the arms 25 with an enlarged stubshaft29 having formed on the facethereof a substantially V-shaped lug 30which. is adapted to closely fit the corresponding V-shaped slot 31formed in the cylindrical block 32 carried at the end of the drivingshaft 33. The V-shaped lug 30 has an arcuate surface 30, which isadapted to form a continuation of the cylindrical surface of the block32 when said lug-is in'engagement with said block.

The cylindrical block 32 carried at the end of the driving shaft 33 isjournaled in a bear- 35 of suflicient width to member 35 is providedwith a lug 35" which extends across the slot 36 at the lower end thereofbut some distance back from the face of the bearing member adjacent thecylinder. In practice the left-hand end of the cylinder, as viewed inFig. 1, is lowered. into its seat before the other end of the cylinder,so, that the V-shaped lug 30 will engage the slot 31 before the stubshaft 26 falls into its seat in the bearing member 27, and thereafterthe continued downward movement of the righthand end of the cylinderwill cause the corresponding frame member 25' to coact with the inclinedsurfaces 27 and thereby mogvc the cylinder toward the left until the V-shaped lug'30 passes beneath the lug 35" on the bearing member. In thismanner the accidental removal of the lug 80 from its seat during theoperation of the machine is prevented, while the intentional withdrawalof the cylinder from the tank is permitted after theoperation thereofhas been. discontinued. The driving shaft 33 is mountedin a suitablebearingi-37carried by the end wall 17 of the tank and saidbearingisprovided with a suitable packingchamber 37;, packing follower37 and locking. s )ring;3'i',, which form a fluid-tight closure. Theshaft 33 may be connected to, a source of power by any suitablemechanism.

r The cylindrical wall 21 of the clothes.- containing cylinder is formedof sheet metal as previously described, and is provided with a pluralityof equally spaced apertures which permit the passage of the washingfluid to and from, the cylinder. 'Ilheseapertures 40 are centrallylocated, in outwardly convex projections 41, which are. formed in thecylinder wall, by punch and. die! mechanism or other suitable means. Inthisway the edges 40 of the apertures are spaced outwardly from theinner wall, of the cylinr der, so that the uncoated; metal around theedges of the apertures is removedfrom contact with the clothes in thecylinder and. the consequent soiling of the clothes is prevented, Theconvex projections serve also to greatly strengthen the walls of thecylinder and'prevent warpingor bending thereof. The possiblecontamination of the washing fluid by these exposed. metallic surfacesat the edges of the apertures is also overcome, owing to the fact thatthere is no accumulation of dirt: or other materialaround theseapertures as was the case in the usual prior art structure, whereeyelets 42 were employed such as shown in Figs. 7 and 8. In

this prior art structure the apertures were stamped through the Wallsand the eyelets clamped in place, so that the eyelet formed a smoothexposed surface around the aperture, but it has beenfound that theexposed unprotected metal at points 43 gradually wore oif, owing to theVibration of the eyelets, and dirt and rust accumulated in the crevicesof the eyelets at these points which was setfree during the operation ofthe machine, thereby contaminating the washing fluid therein. It will beseen that my invention very effectually overcomes this difliculty. a.

A portion of the cylindrical wall of the cylinder is formed into a cover45, which extends throughout the length of the cylinder. The edges ofthe metal are rolled in wardly, as shown at 46. For the purpose ofsupporting the tank in position, I provide the frame member 25 at oneend of the tank, with outwardly extending arms 25 which carry thearcuate plate 25 extending around a portion of the periphery of the endwall. The plate 25 is provided with two inwardly extending arcuateflanges 47 and 48, the former of which is of greater width than thelatter, so that the end of the cover '45 may be seated on the projectingpart of the flange 47 and then moved longitudinally of the tank into theslot between said flanges. At the other end of the tank the bearingmember 25 is provided with similar arms 25 carrying a similar arcuateplate 25. The plate 25 at the last named end of the tank is providedwith a single arcuate flange 50, which is directed longitudinally of thetank and which carries three upwardly extending hook lugs 51. Theadjacent end of the cover 45 1s provided with three similarly formedapertures 52 which engage the hook lugs 51 when the cover is resting onthe flange 50. A locking plate 53 is mounted upon the cover 45 and maybe moved in position beneath the hook lugs 51 to lock the cover securelyin closed position. The cover 45 has riveted thereto the blocks 54,which form a sliding engagement with the slot 55 formed in the plate 53,and the blocks 54 carry a leaf spring 56 which overlaps the edges of theslot and which is adapted to extend through the aperture 57 formed inthe upwardly extending flange 58 of the locking plate 53. The leafspring 56 is provided at this point with anupwardly extending shoulder56*, which engages the flange 58 and holds the locking plate in lookingposition. The leaf spring 56 is provided with a curved extremity 56which is' adapted to coact with the upper wall of the aperture 57 whenthe locking plateis being moved to locking position.

My invention also comprises improved means for agitating the clotheswithin the cylinder, and for this purpose I have provided brackets 60which are arranged in oppositely disposed pairs and secured to theinner-sides of the end walls of the cylinder adjaoentthe outer peripherythereof. The securing means also preferably engages the framemembers 25.These brackets 60 have lugs 60 projecting inwardly therefrom to engagethe rolled edges 61 of the blades 61, constructed of sheet metal orother material, which blades extend throughout the length of thecylinder, being directed radially inward toward the axis thereof. As thecylinder rotates these blades engage the clothes inthe lowermost portionof the tank and carry the same around through a partial revolution, whenthey fall off of one blade and return to the lowermost portion of thetank to be engaged bythe next succeeding blade. I r r 1 From theforegoing description it is thought that the operation and advantages ofthe invention are sufficiently clear, and that no further discussion ofthe operation will be necessary" The bearing construction for detachablysupporting the cylinderof the washing machine, described herein, isclaimed in my Patent, No. 1,294,448, dated Feb. 18, 1919, granted on mycopending application, Serial No. 22,083, filed April 17,

Although I have shown and described a particular embodiment of theinvention, it

will. be understood that I contemplate changes in form and arrangementof parts and the embodiment of the features of this invention in variousother forms of washing machines, without departing from the spiritthereof as defined in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In a washing machine, a cylindrical clothes containing member, abodily movable cover forming a part of the cylindrical wall of saidcylinder, a supporting member secured to one end of said cylinder andhaving spaced apart arcuate flanges adapted to receive one end of saidcover, a supporting member secured to the other end of said cylinderopposite said first-named supporting member and having a plurality ofupwardly projecting lugs carried thereby, said cover having a pluralityof apertures through one end thereof each adapted to be engaged by oneof said lugs, said lugs each having a flange directed toward the otherend of said cylinder, and a slidable locking plate mounted on said coverand adapted to i for.- the: other end" of fiangegsecured to saidcylinderand adapted tolsupport the other end of saidicover, and a.locking means for detachably securing'said last. named end of saidcoverin closed positi'onl 3'. In awashingmachine, a member havingachamber to receive clothes, said chamber liaving an opening in the Wallthereof, a separable cover for said opening, holding means tor one endof said cover, a support for the ether-end of said cover, a lugprojecting fromsaidsupport, said cover having an apertureto, beengaged?by said lug, and" a locking. memberxmounted on said cover and adaptedto. v engage the projecting; part of said lug. r

r 4. In avtashingmachine, a member having a: chamber to: receive Yclothes, said chamber having an opening in the Wall thereof, a:separable cover for said: opening, holding meansforone end of: saidcover, a support said cover, a lug projecting from! said support, saidcover having an aperture to. be engaged by said lug, a lock in'gimembermounted on said coverand adapted; to: engage the projecting part of(zogle srqt thiqsipatent mait'he obtained'for five cents each;ybyaddressing the saidlug, and automatic means for securing said lockingmember in locking position.

5. In a Washing machine, a cylindrical clothes retaining vessel formedof sheet metal, frame members attached to each end of said vessel, apair of arcuate flanges formed on oneof said frame, members and directedinwardly longitudinally of said vessel",- a single arcuate flange formedon the frame member at the other end of said vessel and directedinwardlytoward said firstn-amed flanges, a bodily removable coverforming a continuation of the cylindrical Wall of said vessel arrangedto passbetween and be supported by saidfirst-named flanges and to restat its other end upon said lastnamed flange, a lug extending upwardlyfrom: said last-named flange, said cover being provided With an apertureadapted to be engaged by said lug, and locking means engaging saidlugtosecure said: cover in position.

In testimony whereof, I have subscribed my name.

JOHN F. GUBBINS.

Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, D. 03

